U.S. patent number 5,031,617 [Application Number 07/322,679] was granted by the patent office on 1991-07-16 for method of altering human blood glucose levels by the application of electric charge.
Invention is credited to Harold L. Klettner.
United States Patent |
5,031,617 |
Klettner |
July 16, 1991 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Method of altering human blood glucose levels by the application of
electric charge
Abstract
Human blood glucose levels can be altered by the application of
electric charge. The application of electric charge to the human
body results in decreased in vivo blood glucose levels.
Inventors: |
Klettner; Harold L. (Port
Huron, MI) |
Family
ID: |
23255949 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/322,679 |
Filed: |
March 13, 1989 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
607/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N
1/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61N
1/10 (20060101); A61N 001/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/381,382,795,796,419R ;600/13,14,15 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jaworski; Francis
Assistant Examiner: Getzow; Scott M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of altering the in vivo blood glucose level in human
blood comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge;
insulating said blood from the ground; and
treating said blood with said electrostatic charge for a duration
of time sufficient to alter the glucose level of said blood to
within medically-acceptable blood glucose levels.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said blood glucose level is an in
vivo blood glucose level in a human body and said step of treating
said blood further comprises contacting the skin of said body with
said electrostatic charge.
3. The method claim 2, wherein said body is in a hyperglycemic
state.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrostatic charge is
applied to the palms of said body.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrostatic charge is
applied to soles of said body.
6. A method of altering the in vivo blood glucose level in human
blood comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge;
insulating said blood from the ground; and
treating said blood with said electrostatic charge for a duration
of time sufficient to alter the glucose level of said blood,
wherein said step of treating said blood further comprises
contacting the skin of said body with said electrostatic charge,
and wherein said electrostatic charge is in the range of
approximately 2.5.times.10.sup.5 to 1.times.10.sup.6 volts and said
duration of time is in the range of approximately one to fifteen
minutes.
7. A method for treatment of hyperglycemia in a living human body
comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge external from said
body;
insulating said body from the ground; and
applying said electrostatic charge to said body for a duration of
time sufficient to decrease the level of blood glucose in the blood
after said application to within medically-acceptable levels.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the
step of increasing the voltage of said external source of
electrostatic charge to a predetermined level.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of applying said charge
to the body further comprises the step of applying said charge to
the skin of said body.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of applying said
charge to the skin further comprises applying said charge to the
skin of the palms and soles of the body.
11. A method for treatment of hyperglycemia in a living human body
comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge external from said
body;
insulating said body from the ground; and
applying said electrostatic charge to said body for a duration of
time sufficient to decrease the level of blood glucose in the blood
after said application, wherein the method further comprises the
step of increasing the voltage of said external source of
electrostatic charge to a predetermined level, and wherein said
level of voltage and said duration of time are sufficient to reduce
glucose levels to within medically-acceptable ranges.
12. A method for treatment of hyperglycemia in a living human body
comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge external from said
body;
insulating said body from the ground; and
applying said electrostatic charge to said body for a duration of
time sufficient to decrease the level of blood glucose in the blood
after said application, wherein said method further comprises the
step of increasing the voltage of said external source of
electrostatic charge to a predetermined level, and wherein said
predetermined level of voltage is in the range of approximately
2.5.times.10.sup.5 to 1.times.10.sup.6 volts.
13. A method for treatment of hyperglycemia in a living human body
comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge external from said
body;
insulating said body from the ground; and
applying said electrostatic charge to said body for a duration of
time sufficient to decrease the level of blood glucose in the blood
after said application, wherein the step of applying said charge to
the body further comprises the step of applying said charge to the
skin of the body, and wherein said duration of time is in the range
of approximately one to fifteen minutes.
14. A method for treatment of hyperglycemia in a living human body
comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge external from said
body;
insulating said body from the ground; and
applying said electrostatic charge to said body for a duration of
time sufficient to decrease the level of blood glucose in the blood
after said application, wherein said steps are repeated until said
glucose levels reach medically-acceptable levels.
15. A method for controlling the blood glucose levels of a human
body comprising the steps of:
providing a source of electrostatic charge of a predetermined
voltage;
insulating said body from the ground; and
applying said charge to said body for a duration of time, wherein
said predetermined voltage and said duration of time are sufficient
to maintain said blood glucose level within medically-acceptable
ranges.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method of altering
human blood glucose levels and, more specifically, to a method of
treatment of hyperglycemic conditions by the application of
electric charge to the body.
Hyperglycemic conditions such as those present in the diabetic can
have serious and irreparable consequences, for example, blindness,
impotence, and other problems resulting from impaired circulation.
Conventional methods used to treat hyperglycemic conditions have
had varying degrees of success. These methods include
administration of pharmaceuticals such as anti-rejection and
hypoglycemic agents, insulin injections and pumps and, more
recently, pancreatic tissue transplants. Control of blood glucose
levels through the application of a uniform, monopolar pulsed
electromagnetic field has also met with some success, at least in
test animals. U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,051, issued Jan. 31, 1984 to
Findl et al. herein incorporated by reference. This method,
however, although lowering blood glucose levels, does not reduce
them to normal levels.
The method of the present invention provides a simple, non-invasive
technique for altering human blood glucose levels by the
application of electric charge. The method of the invention can be
used to decrease in vivo blood glucose levels to normal or
medically-acceptable levels by the application of electric charge
directly to the human body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The method of the present invention generally comprises the
application of electric charge to alter the level of glucose in
human blood. The method of the invention further comprises
treatment of hyperglycemic conditions in humans by the application
of electric charge directly to the body.
The application of electric charge has been found to alter human
blood glucose levels both in vitro and in vivo. Application of
electric charge to human blood samples in vitro, i.e. outside the
body, results in an increase in the glucose levels of the samples.
However, and most surprisingly, as seen in the data set forth
below, the application of charge to the human body produces a
decrease of in vivo blood glucose levels. Moreover, it appears that
application of electric charge will not decrease in vivo glucose
levels below normal or medically-acceptable levels, a problem which
may occur with other methods of treatment such as the
administration of insulin. By normal or medically-acceptable
glucose levels is meant a fasting blood glucose level in the range
of approximately 60-140 mg/dl or approximately 100-200 mg/dl two
hours after eating. Thus, the method of the invention can be
utilized as a non-invasive treatment for hyperglycemic conditions
such as diabetes.
When the method of the invention is used to treat hyperglycemic
conditions, the subject being treated is first insulated from the
ground and then contacted with a source of electric charge. The
type of charge to be applied in accordance with the principles of
the invention is preferably electrostatic charge, the source of
which may be provided by any electrostatic generator, such as a
Wimshurst apparatus or a Van de Graaff generator. Preferably, the
source of charge is a Van de Graaff generator wherein voltage can
be directly or indirectly controlled, for example, by altering the
radius of the generator dome, changing the speed of the generator
belt by a reostat, varying the distance of the motor pulley to the
voltage terminal pulley, or varying the width of belt and
pulleys.
The voltage and duration of charge applied to the body can be
varied to adjust to individual factors such as age, size and
surface area, the amount of body hair, the condition of the skin,
the medical condition of the subject and atmospheric and
environmental conditions. For an average adult subject with
adult-onset diabetes, and having no additional serious medical
problems such as certain cardiac conditions, the preferred maximum
voltage applied is approximately in the range of 250,000 to
1,000,000 V, and the preferred duration of application per session
is one to fifteen minutes. Preferably, the charge should be
sufficiently low not to produce undue sensation or discomfort in
the subject. Although a decrease in blood glucose may be apparent
after only one session, it should be appreciated that a series of
electric charge treatments to first acclimatize the subject may be
necessary before a significant decrease in blood glucose levels is
encountered after electric charging.
The mechanism of action of the electric charge on human blood
glucose levels is not fully understood, and thus it is not intended
that the method of the present invention be limited to any
particular mechanism of action. However, with respect to the effect
on the body which results in in vivo decreased glucose levels, one
possibility is pancreatic stimulation, which may in turn increase
insulin production. Another possibility is better utilization of
insulin or glucose by the cells of the body. In any event, it is
believed that when electric charge is applied to the body, the
charge is conducted to the cells through the fiber system of the
body which includes collagenous, reticular and elastic fibers,
microtubules and other fibers and filaments. Thus, although the
charge may be applied to any part of the body, preferred contact
points for application of the electric charge are the palms and
soles. The palms and soles of the human body contain a
concentration of eccrine or "sweat" glands, approximately three
thousand per square inch, which can function as electrical emitters
and receivers.
Other medically-accepted recommendations for the treatment of
hyperglycemia or diabetes, such as weight control, diet and
exercise may be followed in addition to treatment by the method of
the invention. Moreover, the method of the invention may be used in
conjunction with other forms of treatment for hyperglycemic
conditions such as administration of pharmaceuticals and
insulin.
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1
Subject 1 was a 55-year old female diabetic: height 5'3.5"; weight
138 lbs.; blood pressure 110/80. The subject did not follow a
restricted diet or take any medication throughout the course of the
treatment, nor did she follow any exercise program other than
normal routine activity. The subject's weight remained constant
throughout the course of treatment described in this example.
The subject's fasting and two-hour after eating blood glucose
levels were measured daily for a two-week period prior to the
initiation of electric treatment. Fasting blood glucose readings
were taken prior to breakfast. Two-hour glucose levels were taken
two hours after dinner at approximately 7:30 p.m. Blood was
obtained from the subject's finger by a lancet. Blood glucose
levels were measured by the Accu-chek.RTM. II blood glucose monitor
(6 volts) commercially available from Boehringer Mannheim
Diagnostics of Indianapolis, Ind. and verified by the hexokinase
method. The average fasting and two-hour glucose levels over the
two-week period, as indicated in Table 1 below, were 181 mg/dl and
281 mg/dl, respectively.
Subject 1 then began daily treatment by electric charge applied in
succession to the soles and palms using the following method: the
subject stood barefoot on an aluminum conducting sheet connected to
the high voltage terminal of a Van de Graaff generator having the
following dimensions: dome diameter 13.5 in.; distance between
pulleys 25.5 in.; total height 33 in. The aluminum conductor and
subject standing thereon were insulated from the ground by a
plastic pad of 12 mm thickness (8 sheets of 1.5 mm gauge plastic).
The palms of the subject were also placed on a similar insulating
pad. The generator was then turned on and brought up to a voltage
of 500,000 V. The subject was charged through the soles for
approximately three minutes at 500,000 V. After charging, the Van
de Graaff generator was turned off and the subject stepped off the
aluminum sheet to the ground.
After charging through the soles was accomplished and the subject
grounded, the subject stood on the insulating pad and placed her
palms firmly on the dome of the generator. The generator was again
turned on and brought up to a voltage of 500,000 V. The subject was
charged through the palms for another three minute period at
500,000 V. The generator was then turned off and the subject
stepped off the insulative pad onto the ground.
Subject 1 was thus treated approximately two times a day, once
after breakfast and once after dinner before retiring. The subject
was treated over a nine-month period, except for three one-day
periods when aggressive treatment by charging as described above
three times a day was initiated to determine whether a drop below
medically-acceptable levels could be obtained. Fasting blood
glucose levels were measured before breakfast and two-hour blood
glucose levels measured two hours after dinner before the evening
treatment as previously described.
The after-treatment blood glucose levels shown in Table 1 below
represent the blood glucose levels of samples taken approximately
weekly and averaged within the monthly period indicated. As shown
in Table 1, both fasting and two-hour blood glucose levels
continued to decrease over the nine-month period of treatment. The
amount of reduction of blood glucose levels recorded was as much as
150 mg/dl over a three-hour period. However, even after aggressive
treatment by three sessions of charging in one day, as shown by the
results in Table 2 below, a drop below normal or
medically-acceptable levels was not encountered.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ SUBJECT 1 BLOOD
GLUCOSE LEVEL PERIOD OF FASTING TWO-HOUR TREATMENT BLOOD GLUCOSE
BLOOD GLUCOSE ______________________________________ Before
treatment 181 mg/dl 281 mg/dl 2 months 156 mg/dl 262 mg/dl 4 months
143 mg/dl 260 mg/dl 6 months 136 mg/dl 242 mg/dl 8 months 110 mg/dl
180 mg/dl 9 months 100 mg/dl 180 mg/dl
______________________________________
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ BLOOD GLUCOSE
PROFILE DURING SUBJECT 1 AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT TIME BLOOD GLUCOSE
LEVEL ______________________________________ 12:15 p.m. 262 mg/dl
(two hours after eating) 12:30 p.m. Treatment 1:05 p.m. 206 mg/dl
1:35 p.m. 155 mg/dl 2:05 p.m. 110 mg/dl 2:35 p.m. 98 mg/dl 2:55
p.m. Treatment 3:55 p.m. 77 mg/dl 8:35 p.m. Treatment 11:00 p.m. 90
mg/dl ______________________________________
EXAMPLE 2
Subject 2 was a 50-year old female diabetic: height 5'4"; weight
204 lbs; blood pressure 120/80. The subject's diet was moderately
restricted and the subject was engaged in an exercise program of
approximately one-half hour daily swimming or walking several
months prior to and during the period of treatment. During the
course of treatment, the subject's weight remained constant.
The subject's fasting and two-hour blood glucose levels prior to
initiating electric treatments were obtained and measured over a
two-week period as described in Example 1, and averaged 190 mg/dl
and 228 mg/dl, respectively, as shown in Table 3 below.
Subject 2 was then electrostatically treated as described in
Example 1, except that the treatments were for about 3.5 minutes
each for palms and soles and the treatments were given only three
times a week. The three weekly treatments were grouped into a
24-hour period, i.e. 9:30 p.m., and 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. the
following day. This treatment regime was followed for five weeks.
Following the five-week treatment plan, treatment was stopped for
47 days. After the 47-day period of no treatment, a regime of three
treatments per day immediately following meals was begun. This
course of treatment continued for twelve days, after which time
treatment was stopped for twelve days. The resulting blood glucose
levels, averaged over the indicated period of treatment or no
treatment, is shown in Table 3 below.
TABLE 3 ______________________________________ SUBJECT 2 BLOOD
GLUCOSE LEVEL PERIOD OF FASTING TWO-HOUR TREATMENT/ BLOOD BLOOD NO
TREATMENT GLUCOSE GLUCOSE ______________________________________
Before treatment 190 mg/dl 228 mg/dl Five weeks of treatments 173
mg/dl 195 mg/dl (3 .times. week) 47 days - no treatments 166 mg/dl
187 mg/dl 12 days of treatments 150 mg/dl 170 mg/dl (3 .times. day)
12 days - no treatments 127 mg/dl 146 mg/dl
______________________________________
It can be seen from the results in Table 3 that a substantial
decrease in both fasting and two-hour blood glucose levels took
place over an approximate fifteen-week period.
EXAMPLE 3
Subject 3 was a 42-year old male diabetic: height 6'1"; weight 265
lbs; blood pressure 160/85. The subject was being treated for
hyperglycemia with Diabeta,.RTM. two 5 mg tablets before breakfast
and one tablet after dinner. The subject's average fasting blood
glucose level was 236 mg/dl for the two-week period prior to
initiation of electric treatment.
The subject was then treated in accordance with the method set
forth in Example 1, once for four minutes each for palms and soles.
As shown in Table 4 below, the subject experienced a decrease in
glucose levels of 96 mg/dl over a three-hour period.
TABLE 4 ______________________________________ BLOOD GLUCOSE
PROFILE SUBJECT 3 (DIABETIC) OVER TIME TIME BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL
______________________________________ Before treatment 236 mg/dl 1
hour after treatment 195 mg/dl 2 hours after treatment 164 mg/dl 3
hours after treatment 140 mg/dl
______________________________________
EXAMPLE 4
Subject 4 was a 57-year old non-diabetic male: height 6'4"; weight
230 lbs; blood pressure 130/80, having a fasting blood glucose
level of 76 mg/dl and a two-hour blood glucose level of 130 mg/dl.
Table 5 below shows the blood glucose profile over time of the
non-diabetic subject treated as described in Example 1 for 3.5
minutes each through the subject's soles and palms.
TABLE 5 ______________________________________ BLOOD GLUCOSE
PROFILE SUBJECT 4 OVER TIME TIME BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL
______________________________________ Before treatment 76 mg/dl
6:00 p.m. 150 mg/dl (0.5 hours after eating) 6:15 p.m. Treatment
6:35 p.m. 157 mg/dl 7:15 p.m. 130 mg/dl 8:15 p.m. 76 mg/dl 9:15
p.m. 57 mg/dl 10:15 p.m. 56 mg/dl 9:00 a.m. 78 mg/dl (fasting
reading) ______________________________________
EXAMPLE 5
A control blood sample was obtained from diabetic Subject 1 and
non-diabetic Subject 4 during fasting and two-hours after eating
and the blood glucose levels measured by the method of Example 1.
After the blood glucose levels of the control sample was measured,
additional blood was extruded from the finger of the subject, left
on the finger and then electrostatically charged outside the body
by contacting the soles of the subject with the high-voltage
terminal of the Van de Graaff generator by the method of Example 1.
In each case, the generator was brought up to approximately 500,000
V and the sample charged for about 3 minutes. The glucose levels of
the treated samples were then measured by Accu-Chek.RTM. II.
In contrast to the reduced in vivo glucose levels experienced
within the body after electric charge, the detectable in vitro
blood glucose of the samples treated outside the body increased, as
shown in the Tables 6 and 7 below. The blood glucose levels
indicated in Tables 6 and 7 are averages for thirteen samples taken
from diabetic subject 1, and twelve samples from non-diabetic
Subject 4 which were electrostatically treated as described
above.
TABLE 6 ______________________________________ DIABETIC BLOOD BLOOD
GLUCOSE LEVEL SAMPLE FASTING NON-FASTING TREATMENT SAMPLE SAMPLE
______________________________________ Before Treatment 100 mg/dl
286 mg/dl 3 minutes at 120 mg/dl 313 mg/dl 500,000 V
______________________________________
TABLE 7 ______________________________________ NON-DIABETIC BLOOD
GLUCOSE LEVEL BLOOD SAMPLE FASTING NON-FASTING TREATMENT SAMPLE
SAMPLE ______________________________________ Before Treatment 76
mg/dl 150 mg/dl 3 minutes at 94 mg/dl 165 mg/dl 500,000 V
______________________________________
EXAMPLE 6
The reduction of fasting and two-hour blood glucose levels in
Subjects 1, 2, 3 and 4 before and after treatment in accordance
with the method of present invention as described above were
compared and are set forth in Table 8 below. The before treatment
levels indicated in Table 8 are averages of blood glucose levels
taken daily over a two-week period.
The two/four-hour before treatment blood glucose levels were
measured two hours after eating. The after treatment fasting blood
glucose levels were measured three hours after treatment with no
intervening meals. The after treatment two/four-hour blood glucose
levels were measured two hours after treatment which was
administered two hours after eating. After treatment values for
Subject 1 are averages of five readings over 17 days, for Subject 2
averages of five readings over five weeks, and for Subjects 3 and 4
one reading each.
TABLE 8 ______________________________________ BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL
TWO/FOUR- FASTING HOUR SUBJECT/TREATMENT BLOOD BLOOD SUBJECT
TREATMENT GLUCOSE GLUCOSE ______________________________________
SUBJECT 1 Before treatment 181 mg/dl 281 mg/dl After treatment 98
mg/dl 126 mg/dl SUBJECT 2 Before treatment 190 mg/dl 228 mg/dl
After treatment 118 mg/dl 146 mg/dl SUBJECT 3 Before treatment 238
mg/dl 320 mg/dl After treatment 140 mg/dl 164 mg/dl SUBJECT 4
Before treatment 76 mg/dl 130 mg/dl After treatment 57 mg/dl 76
mg/dl ______________________________________
As shown above in Table 8, all subjects experienced a decrease in
blood glucose levels after treatment in accordance with the method
of the present invention.
It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, once given
the benefit of the foregoing disclosure, may now make modifications
of the specific embodiments described herein without departing from
the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are to be
considered within the scope of the present invention, which is
solely limited by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
* * * * *